Acceptable hours - charity collectors?

princess

Twice we've been phoned by charities asking if we would do collections for them in our street and we have reluctantly agreed. They have sent us the boxes and we've collected and sent off the monies to them as requested. We don't get in from work until 6pm and we wanted our dinner before we went out, so I'm sure we were out until after 8.00pm - it was certainly dark. But of course we were never rude! Its a miserable job though. All the neighbours who knew us wanted to talk about whether we had a particular connection with the charity (which we didnt have) and those who didn't know us probably thought we were annoying chuggers who were being paid to knock (which we weren't). Maybe the people who knocked on your door hated doing the knocking as much as you hated recieving the knock?

lizziebell*80

I've been known to ignore the door if I'm not expecting anyone or keek out a window and don't know who they are. We used to have a neighbour who had manic episodes every so often and would knock our door & other neighbours and sometimes try and barge his way into your house so we cautious with knocking!
I give money to a charity I chose for family reasons and also donate to charity shops so don't feel bad for not answering the door.

jellyhead

We recently had one from Macmillan knock on the door at 8:50pm and wake up my youngest

If a charity wants to communicate with me they can put it in writing for me to peruse at my leisure

gingin_2

jellyhead wrote: »

We recently had one from Macmillan knock on the door at 8:50pm and wake up my youngest

If a charity wants to communicate with me they can put it in writing for me to peruse at my leisure

I had this too with Macmillan, they called at 9pm. I wrote them an email saying I knew they were a worthy organisation but it was really disappointing that their canvassers were calling so late and never heard anything back, so doubly disappointing. I have a lot of elderly neighbours and think it must be very unsettling for them.

I have an elderly neighbour who has taken to calling on us when he has a problem so feel I need to answer the door. They must see us as a soft target around here because I get callers 2x a week at least, this time of year is the worst. I wish there could be some sort of law passed on not being allowed to canvas homes.

suki1001

I see both sides.

Door to door is a horrible job, i did it for a short stint because I was desperate for a job and even though it was commission only, I wanted to work rather than sign on. Although they are annoying, at least they're being productive and working. I used to feel really upset if people told me to f off, because I was only trying to do a job, that was one I didn't like and worked hard. I definitely wasn't rude to people.

The problem is there's never a right time. If you call during the day, anyone who does a shift pattern is at risk of being disturbed, baby having an afternoon nap and so on.

In terms of rudeness, there's no excuse, some of them can be quite arrogant and I would report them. I can understand why people get annoyed, but they are only doing a job.

FunWithFlags

I just don't answer the door now if there's a knock and I'm not expecting someone. A rude salesman ("well f!!! that then!" as he walked off down our path) and a weird man offering self defence classes who "has to come inside" to explain it all sealed the deal on that one lol. I'm one who thinks door to door sales and collecting should be banned though. I mean, logically, why on earth would I buy double glazing or loft insulation from a random person who comes to my door? Something that expensive would need to be researched and looked into first. The rude salesman I mentioned, I looked up his company so I could complain about being sworn at and the website was down and I could not find a telephone number for the company or a proper address. So dodgy and I feel sorry for the elderly person who gets pressured into buying from them. I know there are probably reputable companies doing door to door as well but how would you know without looking it up?

Back on topic and off ramble lol I think they should be banned as it pressurises people so I think any time of day they knock is unacceptable.

Gra76

I no longer buy into or donate to anyone who comes knocking at my door. I'll donate to charity as and when I want to, not when someone comes knocking. Think I'll have to put up a 'Do not knock if you are selling something or collecting for charity' sign as we seem to get more and more people knocking these days.

Welshwoofs

Happens here too and what's even more annoying is that there's a bloody big sign at the start of the street saying that it's a no cold calling street!

scooby088

Is it right of me to say that I don't care about the charity you collect for on the door. I have a charity that I donate to and that is much more appreciated as it goes direct to the charity and not a collection company that only gives a small percentage to the actual charity.

Tropez

My gate is locked by that time so they won't be able to get to my door and I have two signs telling all such callers I'm not interested, but I would be very annoyed if they called at such times.

But then again, I don't like them calling full stop. Personally, I think the whole practice should be illegal given it is open to significant abuse, is misleading to many and is regularly used as part of a distraction crime due to the ease in which official-looking but meaningless ID badges and documents can be produced.